Chocolate Tote – Free Crochet Pattern

For this year’s blog tour I created a textured handbag that works up very quickly and is easy enough that someone starting out could create it. I’ve been working hard to add free patterns to my site and so far most of them I have made for people who don’t have a lot of crochet experience, or those who do and want a quick project. This bag fits the bill!

The lining and handles take a little time, but are optional. You could easily do a crocheted handle if you prefer. I think a fabric lining and purchased handles really give crochet and knitted bags a professional touch, and tend to use them often when I make a bag.

This pattern is available to view here on the website or you can buy a downloadable version on etsy for $1.99. This little bit helps support my site and pay for hosting. The free pattern is always available here on the site.

Hi Amy! When you work row 15 you are making the pocket. To do this you will need to leave the center 13 sts unworked and instead work the 13 sts from the pocket lining. I added an image to the bottom of this post to see if it explains it better. Let me know if you have any other questions!

This looks like just the bag I’ve been looking for. I’m a little confused about the pocket “liners”. Do we attach the tops where it says to att ach the pocket liners? Is everything else then sewn on and see together when all the sides are done?

Hi Sharon! You do just attach the tops when you are crocheting the pieces. Leave the sides and bottom free until you are actually assembling the bag. You can see in the first two steps of the lining tutorial how they are attached later. The first picture shows fabric placed over the pocket lining and you can tell it is only attached at the top. Let me know if you have other questions! 🙂

Hi Amanda, I really like this pattern. I am almost through working all the parts and was wondering how you “sew” the parts together. Did you use thread and needle or yarn with yarn needle. I am guessing you sew it together on the outside. Thanks so much for such a nice looking bag!😃

Hi Mary! I used two techniques to sew this bag together, but either one would work fine. I started out with putting the right sides of the bag together and slip stitching the seams with the same hook and yarn used for the bag, but then I used a whipstitch with yarn and yarn needle and it worked just as well! I have a lining tutorial and it shows me sewing it together and even if you choose not to line it there are pictures of the sewing part. 🙂 You can view it here. Hope it helps! I’d love to see pictures of your bag!

I have received several questions about row 15 and further down the post I have a picture and a more detailed description. You are working 13 sts of the body of the bag then working the 13 sts across the pocket lining instead of the next 13 sts of the body of the bag (you leave those unworked). Then continue across the 13 sts remaining of the body of the bag. It leaves the center 13 sts open to become the pocket. Hope this helps!

The pattern is available online or you can pick up an ad-free downloadable version on etsy if you would like for $1.99. This little bit helps support the cost of running the website but I always offer the full free pattern here on the blog.

Hi I love this tote! Question: the pocket liners are in single crochet and they don’t match the bag, but the pictures look like they were done in the stitch pattern (rows 2-5). Should they be done in the stitch pattern or am I reading the liners section wrong?

Hi Stephanie! Yes, the pocket liners are just in sc. The liners go on the inside and you don’t end up seeing them at all – they just form the inside of the pocket. The part you can see from the photos isn’t the pocket lining. Any other questions feel free to ask! 🙂

Love the tote. Have you or do you put some kind of liner in this bag and also, some kind of inside bottom for stability? I’ve seen plastic in some cut to size so that items are protected and yarn isn’t all stretched out. How would one crochet an inner divider? I suppose that would be fairly easy then stitch in place. Just my ideas to use.

Hi Gerry! Yes, this bag has both an interfacing of a stiff craft stabilizer and then a lining fabric to make it functional as well as pretty. 🙂 If you want a crochet divider I would just make another panel a bit smaller than the front/back and stitch it in place. Thanks for the ideas!

The method I used for this bag was the same as the Buckle Bag – I did a lining tutorial for it that you can find here. The only difference is that I discovered that craft stabilizer was better for structure than the crinoline I used in that tutorial but you apply it the same way. You can find craft stabilizer at any craft store with the interfacing. The employees should be able to help you locate it. It really gives structure to the bag and makes it a lot more functional! It just takes very basic stitching skills – I use a back stitch to stitch mine in place. There are a ton of good tutorials on youtube for a back stitch if you need it. 🙂

Bloggers: Seeking designs for your upcoming roundup? I’d love for you to feature my work! You have my permission to use one photo in your roundup post as long as a link is provided back to the associated pattern page. Please let me know when your post is published so I can share it on my social media, too. Thank you!